Plate or picture easel.



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No. 651,215. Patented Ju'ne 5, |900. J. B. TIMBERLAKE.

PLATE 0R PICTUREl EASEL.

(Application 'lled Oct. 4t, 1895.)

2Sheets--Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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,ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J OHI\T B. TIMBERLAKE, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

PLATEoR PICTURE EAsEL..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 651,215, datedfJ une 5, 1900.

Application filed October 4, 1895. Serial No. 564,632. (No model.)

T0 all when?, t may concer-n:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. TIMBEELAKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plate or Picture Easels, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a front elevation of one form of easel orholderembodyingmyinvention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, showing a plate supported by the holder or easel. Fig. 3 is a rear view, the plate being represented. Fig. 4 is a side view of another form of holder embodying my invention. Fig. 5 is a front view, Fig. G is a side view, and Fig. 7 a rear view, of still another form of the invention, a plate being represented in Fig. 5, but not in Figs. 6 and 7. Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are perspective views showing other forms of the invention; and Fig. 1l is a detail view, enlarged, showing one method of uniting the ends of the wire from which the easels or holders are made.

My invention has for its object to construct aholder for plates, platters, plaques, and similar articles, which are frequently supported upon easels, that shall possess certain fea turcs of novel construction which tend to improve the easel or holder, as will be hereinafter set forth.

In order to secure the desired s teadiness of a support for a plate or round plaque and overcome any tendency to roll, it is important that the supporting side arms of the easel l or holder shall be far enough apart to permit the edge of the plate to enter so far between the arms that the Weight of the article shall exert a noticeable wedging action downward and laterally against the arms, and in order to insure sufficient rigidity or firmness of resistance to such spreading action with the relatively-light Wire which it is desirable to use in the manufacture of such holders I have found that it is important to connect together the arms upon which the article rests at their front ends by means of a link or tie piece which is integral with said arms and to form a bearing or throat to receive the lower edge of the plate or plaque by bending up'-v ward the same integral wire to form a throat or bearing between each of the arms and the wire of the cross piece or tie.

In carrying out my invention I prefer to cut the wire of the proper length and commence the operation of bending it into the desired shape at two points which are so far equidistant from its center that the space between the bends shall correspond substantially to the desired distance between the front ends of the side arms. Oommencing at such points I bend the wire preferably simultaneously at both points into suitable shape to constitute the feet or bearings B. The wire is bent upward from the feet and formed into suitable shape, preferably a curvilinear shape, to constitute the upper member O of a throat or bearing the lower member of which is the horizontal or side arm D. The free or end portions of the wire are then shaped so as to constitute a rear support for the easel and also a support for the plate or article to be held in rear of the throats or bearings C D.

A represents the central tie or cross piece extending between the front feet or bearings B and operating to hold them and the side arms D from lateral separation under the` weight of the article supported upon the holder or easel.

-I will now describe the peculiar features which distinguish the several forms of my in Vention illustrated in the drawings.

In Figs. l, 2, and 3 it will be observed that the side arms D, against which the edges of the plaque or plate bear, are situated such distance apart as to permit the portion of the edge of the plate between them to extend a noticeable distance below the bearing-points upon the arms D, this being clearly represented in Fig. 8. This, as has been stated, causes the plate, particularly if heavy, to eX- ert a considerable Wedging action upon the side bars D,tending to separate them, and the integral cross or tie piece A is for thevpurpose of preventing the undue separationfor spreading of the side arms. It will also be noticed, particularly by reference to Figs. l and '2, that the bearings or throats between the upturned member C and the side arms or IOO bearings D are sufficiently raised or lifted points for these feet being in rear of the portion of the support with which the central part of the plate or plaque engages. The ends of the wire after being bent to form the feet or bearings E are continued backward and upward, so as to constitute the upward extensions F above the side arms D and against which the upper portion of the plate or plaque may rest. I prefer that the upward extensions F should also be arranged in front of the bearing-points of the feet or supports E in order that the center of gravity of the article supported upon the holder may be so far forward as to preclude any danger oi' the easel tipping over backward. The ends of the wire are turned inward toward each other from the upper ends of the extensions F, and constitute a horizontal connecting-piece G, the ends of the wire being united bya ferrule or sleeve g, (see Fig. 11,) which may be applied in any usual or approved manner.

The ferm et' my invention represented in Fig. 4sdit`fers from that just described in that it lacks the upward extensions F F. The ends of the wire afterbeing formed into the rear feetor bearings E may terminate at about the peintre, or the ends of the wire may be bent in toward each other at about the position indicated at e and united as represented in Fig. l1 or otherwise, as preferred. This form ofthe invention is well adapted for supporting a plate with a moderatelydeep beveled rim or flange.

vIn the form of my invention represented in Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive, the upward extensions F instead ofbeing parallel with each other converge, as shown in Fig. 7. In a form like this it would usually be most desirable to unite the ends oi the wire at the apex. of the converging extensions F. In this form of the invention it will also be noticed that the throat or bearing between the parts C and D i is not situated so far above the bearingpoints or edges of the vforward feetll as in the first-described form of myinvention. In this respect it is not so desirable as the form first described, as a plate which is supported thereby, especially if rather small, will not rest firmly upon the side arms 1) D, `but will bca-r against the surface upon which the easel or support rests and will be liable to roll or rock to a slight extent.

In Figs. 8, f), and 10 other forms of my invention are described. ever, that these views need not be described in detail. It will `be sufficient to note that in each `form of the-invention the side bars D, the forward feet or bearings B, the upward continued or extending members C C, which cooperate to form the throat for the edge of the article held, and the cross or tie piece A are integral and that the side arms D, against which the middle portion of the article may rest, are in front of the rear support for the holder.

Ihile I have represented the rear support It is thought, how-- of the article as consisting of feet or bearings E E, which are circular in outline, they may be otherwise constructed or arranged, the particular shape and disposition of these feet being a matter which may be left to the taste ofthe designer or manufacturer. Thus in Fig. 8 I have represented the feet orbearings being of large scroll form, while in Fi. 10 they are represented as being circular, but rather small in size, and in this View the portions of the wire N above the bearings or feet E E are represented as converging and being twisted together.

The arrangement and disposition of the cross-tie piece A may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention. Thus in Figs. 1, 2, 3, S, 9, and 10 the crossties there represented are so disposed as to be in rear of the lower edge of the article sup ported, while in the form of invention shown in Figs. 5, t', and 7 the cross-tie piece A liesl in 'front of the article supported.

It will be observedby reference tothe several views that the support for the central and upper portions of the plate or article may be variously inclined and disposed without departing from the essential features ot my invention.

Having described my invention, what` I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

l. A wire support for holding a plate or plaque vertical or inclined cdgewise, comprising side arms connected at their front ends by a horizontal tie-piece integral with the side arms, the wire from which the said side arms and horizontal tiepiece.are formed being` bent downward to form feet or bearings at the front ends of the arms, and bentupward to form rests for the lower edge ofthe plate, the said rests being situated above or higher than the forward feet and bearings for the arms, the rear feet or bearings for thc support and a support for the central portion oi' the article arranged in front of the rear` feet., substantially as set forth.

2. A wire support or holdcrfor a plate or the like, formed oi a single piece otwire bent to constitute the cross-tie A, the forward feet orbearings B, B, at the ends ot the cross-tie, the upward extensions, C, C, above the feet or bearings, the side arms D, `D,` there being formed bearings or throats for the edge ot' the article between the side arms D and the upward extensions C, the rear feet or bearings E, E, and the upward rear eXtcnsionsF, the bear-` ings or resting-surfaces for the feet E, being in rear of the portion of the support or holder against which the central and `upper part of the article rests7 substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof Iafiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN B. TIMBERLAKE.

tVitn esses:

H. H. DoUnLEDAY, J. H.

IOO

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